Today’s reading. The first card on the left is an angel card and it’s a message for the last day of the year. See beauty and enchantment the Angels are asking you to see the world as a magical place filled with enchantment. For the new year is my new faeries oracle and it’s the singer of courage. This fairy is igniting your with the spirit of courage to set out into the new year strong and courageous. Turn fear into courage! #courage #enchantment #healing #oraclereading #tarotreading #newyear #newyear2017 #happynewyear #angeloracle #angeloraclereading #faeriesoracle #faeries #angels #angelguidance #angelmessages #spiritual #spiriuality #spiritualhealing #spiritualawakening #spiritualhealer #spiritualjourney #energyhealing #metaphysical #metaphysicalhealing #miami #miamilife #reiki #reikihealing #yoga #love #light #peace #om #namaste

Studies show that New Year's resolutions are notoriously hard to keep and, statistically speaking, don't work. In other words, for people with low self-esteem they're like time-bombs, tick-tick-ticking with the probability of making us hate ourselves more.

So, instead of declaring what we should do and maybe "will" do in 2017, why not gaze backwards to see all the useful, helpful, healing things we've done in 2016? Marvel at these, just as you would at a sheaf of gifts. Then write yourself a thank-you letter.

Here, for example, is mine. Feel free to use it for ideas, but because hardly anything could be more personal, yours will be different.

Hey, Self—

Thanks for still being here.

Thanks for continuing to pursue progress if not toward sky-high, dancing-in-the-streets self-esteem, then at least medium self-esteem, aka acceptance, which is all you've ever sought, to the extent that you've ever sought self-esteem at all, because even seeking it, wishing for it, is itself a sign of self-esteem. This is because hating oneself equals believing to your core that this hatred is justified, legitimate, appropriate: a fact of life like leaves on trees, and that seeking relief, release unto a state of slightly less self-hatred is obscene, absurd, like letting killers out of jail.

So just pursuing hazy, lazy, don't-run-screaming-from-the-mirror noncommittal self-acceptance, as you have done in 2016, is worth thanking you for, because it's taken a long lifetime even to reach this milestone which some would call rudimentary: the acceptance of acceptance, which rudimentary as it sounds still feels like hewing a tunnel through solid rock, using a single pickaxe. Yeah, so thanks.

And thanks for trying to keep your self-hatred from destroying your major relationships. Yes, you're still somewhat as you always were, infecting would-be joyful moments with I-don't-deserve-this doubt and what-will-go-wrong fear, transforming every compliment into an argument—but now you see how hard this is on others, ruining their fun while forcing them to act like rescuers and therapists and saints and save you from yourself, which they do because they love you but it makes them also resent you. Now at last, at least, you meet such moments with compassion for them and yourself and with a dawning new awareness which stems that cycle sooner, or at least quiets it.

Which is another way of saying: Thanks for learning to shut the F up. I know, I know—you spent a lifetime shutting yourself up, and being shut up by your parents when they raged at tiny little you for saying "barf" and other ordinary words is largely how you learned to hate yourself. But this is different. Learning not to blab every negative thought that pops into your mind—and, when one hates oneself, nearly all thoughts are negative—means learning not to force those thoughts on others. Shutting up can manifest respect. It is also a sacred silence, teaching you that thoughts are only thoughts, and need not carry you away like crazy clown cars. This is radical. You learned it in 2016.

Thanks for realizing that not everyone will always understand, nor need they, and this topic need not enter every dialogue.

And thanks for finally understanding your self-hatred—all self-hatred—as a situation, a condition, not unlike left-handedness or shivering in the cold or liking red. Part nature and part nurture, it was almost surely in your DNA: Mom hated herself. What chance had you to dodge that? She never tried to hide or heal it. She thought she deserved it. Decades later, long after she left this world, you still suffer the consequences just as you still have the small head and nearsightedness and love for polished rocks that you inherited from Dad. But now you know: Self-hatred is a state of being, which like all those other things can be accepted but not necessarily submitted to.

In other words, thank you for feeling a little less doomed.

Thank you for reading at least two and a half books. Thank you for drawing creepy hybrid creatures with wings, ankle bracelets and extremely lifelike hands. Thank you for watching documentaries. Thank you for feeding birds. Thank you for sitting still, observing all your default terror and regret and—well, remaining still.

To explore the experiences and expectations of patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and general practitioners in order to develop the potential role of an Advanced Nurse Practitioner at the diagnostic care path of abnormal fatigue developed for regional transmural implementation in the Belgian provinces of East and West Flanders.

BACKGROUND

Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome experience an incapacitating chronic fatigue that is present for at least six months. Since many uncertainties exist about the causes and progression of the disease, patients have to cope with disbelief and scepticism. Access to health care may be hampered, which could lead to inappropriate treatments and guidance.

DESIGN

Qualitative design.

METHODS

Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and general practitioners in Belgium. Data were collected over 9 months in 2014-2015. All interviews were audio recorded and transcribed for qualitative analysis using open explorative thematic coding.

RESULTS

Fifteen patients and fifteen general practitioners were interviewed. Three themes were identified: mixed feelings with the diagnosis, lack of one central intermediator and insufficient coordination. Participants stressed the need for education, knowledge and an intermediator to provide relevant information at the right time and to build up a trust relationship.

CONCLUSION

This qualitative exploration underscores some clear deficiencies in the guidance of patients suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and abnormal fatigue. An Advanced Nurse Practitioner as a central intermediator in the transmural care of these patients could promote interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary collaboration and effective communication, provide education and ensure a structured and coordinated approach.

Morning stiffness is a common complaint in majority of the patients who are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. It is also seen in degenerative disorders. Cold weather, sedentary life, overweight, heavy food, altered digestion strength are a few factors which could worsen joint stiffness. The below remedies can be used in adjunct with the disease treatment. […]

By Dr MS Krishnamurthy MD(Ayu), PhD Flatus is a burning health issue in many. As per Ayurveda, fart is a natural urge and it should not be suppressed. As per Ayurveda, if it is force stopped, over a period of time, it may lead to bloating, abdominal pain, headache and such other Vata imbalance disorders. […]

“There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than bread.” ~Mother Teresa

I’ve been in a relationship with my boyfriend for over four years. We’ve had our fair share of great times and not so pretty moments, but this summer our relationship was put the test.

During that time, I went through some major transitions with my career and personal development, all things that needed to happen for me to be best version of myself.

Those months were filled with long hours of working and being alone, solely focusing on creating the future I wanted. I was in deep, chasing my dreams, and wouldn’t let anything get in my way.

As time went on, I noticed that my partner was slowly slipping away.

It wasn’t that he wasn’t coming home or was nowhere to be found. He was responding to the fact that I had lost focus on him.

I was failing my partner in the following ways:

I didn’t say thank you for all the little things he did for me.

I didn’t ask him how his day was. Instead, I was eager to share how my day went.

When I faced an obstacle with my goals, I would be rude and short with him.

Instead of greeting him with a smile when he arrived home, I treated him as if he was a burden getting in the way of the work I needed to do.

Rather than planning and spending time with him, I would work late into the evening.

Lastly, I wasn’t present with him. When I did spend time with him, all I did was think about work.

My actions and behaviors were so self-centered that I stopping thinking about how he was doing, how his day went, and what he needed support with.

The end result: he withdrew.

At first I thought he was no longer interested in me, but I eventually came to realize that I wasn’t even close to meeting his needs. And what he needed was simple: appreciation.

He had hinted at it several times in his own way, but I’d had blinders on.

After months of neglect, my boyfriend and I sat at our kitchen table making small talk and slowly tiptoeing into the conversation of what was and wasn’t working in our relationship.

He said, “All I ever want is for you to appreciate me. I don’t need you to cook for me or get all dressed up or buy me things. All I want is to be appreciated.”

His honest and vulnerable declaration brought me to tears. I realized then that I had been causing my partner significant pain and suffering for no reason.

So, with my heart on the table, my eyes swollen from crying, and a common ground of love to move forward on, I told him this: “From now on, I will appreciate you—the big, the small, the silly, and imperfect. I will appreciate it all. I may not be perfect in my practice of appreciation, but I am committed to it, so much so that I have added it to my morning routine.”

Much like the gratitude journal I write in every morning, I now have a journal dedicated solely to all the things I value about my partner.

Every morning I set aside time to think of three things I appreciate about him. I do this even when I’m not feeling up for it. I take my time and feel every emotion that comes up as I write down my list of three items.

I also make an effort so show my appreciation in action. My partner’s love language is “acts of service,” meaning actions speak louder than words. He feels loved when I do things for him coupled with expressing my feelings for him, so I now strive to show him that I love him with acts that require planning and thoughtfulness.

The Value of Appreciation

I never thought that simply reminding myself how much I appreciate my partner would cause a ripple effect in how I interact with him, but it has.

Since starting my appreciation practice…

I easily forgive his mistakes, such as forgetting to do something I ask him to do to support me, or not being sensitive enough and open to my feelings when I feel overwhelmed. I’ve grown to love his mistakes because they remind me of what it is to be imperfect. After all, I’m not perfect, and I can’t expect him to be either.

I appreciate his faults and quirks. Like hitting the snooze button when he needs to get out of bed. And forgetting to eat throughout the day because he’s too busy teaching college students. And running behind schedule most of the time. We all have faults. His remind me all over again why I fell in love with him. In all reality, we complement each other nicely.

I appreciate his smile and his one of kind laugh.

In recognizing all that my partner does for me and my future, I feel a love so powerful that just thinking about it brings me to tears.

My partner feels appreciated and cared for. He is more eager to engage with me, and more willing to be open and expressive with me. And he talks about the future more than ever.

What Happens When You Don’t Appreciate the People in Your Life

When you don’t appreciate others, your relationships suffer in the following ways.

The other person feels unimportant and may withdraw from you.

When your partner feels unappreciated, any talks of the future will be met with resistance. Would you want to build a future with someone who doesn’t appreciate you?

Animosity may build up in the relationship, on both sides.

The person feeling unappreciated may find other places, things, or people to seek appreciation from.

Being unappreciated can lead to unnecessary arguments and resentment.

Lack of appreciation may completely ruin and end the relationship.

How to Start Appreciating the People in Your Life

If you’ve recognized that you could make a little more effort appreciating the people in your life, dedicate a notebook solely for this purpose. Start your day by jotting down three things you value about this person. At the end of thirty days, give them your notes of appreciation. Rinse and repeat.

But appreciation doesn’t just live within the mind. Sure, it’s wonderful to think about all the things you value about someone, but when you don’t vocalize or show your appreciation, it means nothing.

You can start appreciating others in your life by:

Leaving them notes thanking them for who they are and what you appreciate about them.

Saying thank you and acknowledging the little things they do every day.

Giving specific examples of what they have done and how that has enhanced your own life.

Appreciating their flaws and quirks. The little imperfections are what make people unique. They may feel insecure about them. Let them know how you appreciate their imperfections, and why.

Giving someone a hug when they help you out or put a smile on your face.

Doing something unexpected; brighten their day by buying them a cup of coffee, or stopping by to let them know that you love them and appreciate them for being in your life.

Like Tony Robbins said, “Trade your expectations for appreciation and your whole world changes in an instant.”

Appreciation strengthens the bonds you have with others, no matter the relationship. It replaces a mindset of not having enough with being grateful for everything you have. And most of all, it creates space to be thankful for the little things in life.

Tara is the founder of Be Moved. She provides inspiration and simple wisdom to people so they can create a happier and more fulfilling life. Her interests include running, gardening, playing the guitar and spending time with her dog and boyfriend. Join her Weekly Newsletter for a dose of inspiration and to receive your free 7-Day Gratitude Journal.

Dr Charles Shepherd, chairman of the biobank steering group, passes on this message:

The UK ME/CFS Biobank would like to share our significant achievements in 2016!

We have completed recruitment of over 500 participants, thanks to the support of charities, private donations and a NIH grant, which have enabled the testing of exciting hypotheses related to immune mechanisms, genetic expression and evidence of viral infection in ME/CFS. We expect to have results of many of our studies published in the first half of 2017.

A Christmas Appeal led by the ME Association raised funds to enable the opening of the Biobank to applications from external researchers in 2016. We have attracted considerable interest from researchers in the UK, other European countries, North and South America willing to benefit from our data and samples from well characterised cases of ME/CFS, all of whom have a medical diagnosis confirmed according to rigorous criteria.

The long-term sustainability of the UK ME/CFS Biobank is a priority for us. We are now preparing to submit an application to the Wellcome Trust on their Biomedical Resources Grant call early in the New Year, which we hope, if successful, will contribute to an increased capacity of the Biobank to support biomedical research in the field.

This is just one of the strategies we will put in place to ensure the resource is sustainable in the long term and will fully meet the expectations of people with ME/CFS and biomedical researchers in the field.

We take the opportunity to thank all people who donated samples and shared their data with us, and all our sponsors and supporters who enabled us to reach this point.

We also want to ensure our commitment to the principles we developed in partnership with people with ME/CFS, including the Biobank focus on ethical and high-impact biomedical research that can translate in benefits, less suffering and ‘stigma’ of all of those with ME/CFS.

By Dr MS Krishnamurthy MD (Ayu), PhD Sleep along with food and abstinence (Brahmacharya) form the three pillars of life as per Ayurveda. Sleepless night give us alarms to modify our food, lifestyle habits and relations. It is told- “Good sleep is thousand fold worth than earning a Crore Rupees” I know a poor may […]

By Dr MS Krishnamurthy MD (Ayu), PhD. Peripheral neuritis or neuralgia is a very common health issue found in the age group of above 40-45 years in women and above 50-55 years in men. If it is of moderate intensity, this condition can be managed well with home remedies. Common causes: Sedentary life, long walk, […]

Article by Dr Manasa, B.A.M.S Ramayana and Mahabharata are the greatest Indian Epics of Indian literature written in Sanskrit. It is an epic narrative of the Kurukshetra war including the battle between the Pandava and Kaurava princes. It is translated as ‘The great tale of the Bharata Dynasty’. Mahabharatha is not just a story, it […]

Article by Dr Manasa, BAMS ‘Ramayana’ is a very famous ancient Indian Epic. It is the first of the two ‘Sanskrit Itihasa’ or ancient Indian Epic Poems, the other one being Mahabharata, composed by Maharshi Valmiki before 500BC. The epic was revised and set down in its best-known form by the poet Tulasi Das (1532-1623). Traditionally, […]

Article by Dr Manasa, B.A.M.S Panini is the greatest pioneers of Sanskrit Grammar. He is known for his works on ‘Sanskrit Grammar’, particularly for his formulation of the 3,959 rules of ‘Sanskrit Morphology’, syntax and semantics in the grammar known as ‘Ashtadhyayi’ meaning ‘Eight Chapters’. Ashtadhyayi can be considered as the foundational text of the […]

Article by Dr Manasa, BAMS Puranas are Hindu religious texts of ancient times and are parts of Vedas. They contain narratives related to the history of the Universe from creation to destruction and the genealogies of kings, heroes, sages and demigods. They were primarily composed in Sanskrit, but also in regional languages, several of these […]

Article by Dr Manasa The concept of ‘Pashu Ayurveda’ or the ancient veterinary science points towards a ‘comprehensive man-animal relation’ which existed in olden days. Animal has always been a good accompaniment of man since ages. Man has used animals and domesticated them for various uses like obtaining food products, farming, transportation etc. The pre-historic […]

“Why did you have to work so hard and not get the credit you deserved?!”

“Is deafness all you got in return for striving toward excellence all these years?!”

“You are worthless!”

As an overachiever and a perfectionist, I felt overwhelmed by a shame storm.

I was caught up in bitterness and a sense of injustice until one day I realized that I was battling with myself, and the self-loathing quotient went off the chart.

“What do you want, Universe? Don’t you see that I’m suffering?” I ranted out loud like a mad victim.

Even though spirituality wasn’t my thing at that point in time, I literally “heard” a clear voice: “Own it. Take stock of your life now, Jen.” This triggered me to start asking why in heaven I had gotten myself into this mud hole.

Connecting with My Younger Self

With my eyes closed I saw a seven-year-old girl, the little me. She was taught to be very self-disciplined academically, as she was told to excel and work hard.

Her sole goal was for her parents to put her on a pedestal for being good and intelligent.

Since she came from a family where praise was like a foreign language, validating children for trying hard hadn’t been the parenting style in the house. Instead, there was often an attitude that the children could do better—they could work harder to achieve more.

Hearing her parents give random compliments to other kids at the same age irritated her. She could only draw this conclusion: “Doing my best is not good enough, so I need to try even harder, or else I won’t be worthy of love and attention.”

From then on, she constantly craved compliments and approval.

“Jen, great job, keep up the good work!” Those simple comments were like water to her thirsty soul.

Years later, she became masterful at overachieving, perfecting, and competing, which helped her gain “confidence” through compliments from other people.

If she ever heard a negative comment, it could ruin her whole day. She’d go home discouraged and mentally lash herself for not doing well enough.

She didn’t know what to say without first checking other people’s facial expressions. She lived on their compliments as the life stream of her self-worth. Until one day, she realized she’d lost it all. Her physical and emotional wellbeing had gone bankrupt, but worse her authenticity had gone down the drain.

Even now, I can still feel her pain, the insecurity, the fear of rejection, and the strong need to be loved wrapped underneath a people-pleasing mask.

Path of Returning to the Truth

Deep down in my core, I knew that my mother and father, just like many other typical Asian parents, wanted their children to have better lives, and they believed that would come from in excelling in school so they could get better jobs, make more money, and be prosperous.

I still thought that they should’ve done better, because they weren’t mindful enough to give me the emotional support I needed in the childhood. I got stirred up about it, and I even wanted to confront my parents with a letter to tell them what I thought after all those years.

Just before I was about to take action, I heard something from inside saying, “They did you wrong, didn’t they? They didn’t give you what you needed, did they?”

“They sure did!” I replied.

Then the voice asked, “How do you think you would’ve done if you would’ve been in their shoes, with three kids to raise, with a business to run, with aging parents to take care of, and with a load of family chaos to be sorted out?”

This conversation changed my perspective. I realized that my parents had done the best they could with what they had. They couldn’t give me what they didn’t even have themselves. I began to feel ashamed of my immaturity and selfishness.

This time, the shame level was way stronger than it was when I left my corporate job involuntarily and felt worthless.

Blaming is like putting a Band-Aid on a bullet wound; it never works. I realized that I was the one not letting anybody off the hook while busy swimming in the pool of victimhood.

Lessons Learned

Regaining my hearing after two months was a divine miracle, but I’m grateful that the silence taught me the following lessons about understanding others and releasing the need for approval.

1. Stop seeking validation from others.

It’s great when people believe in us, cheer us on, and make us feel valuable. We love when our partners compliment us or a friend is there to give encouragement.

But you cannot become so dependent on people that you derive your worth and value from how they treat you. It’s easy to become addicted to compliments, addicted to encouragement, addicted to them cheering you on.

But if other people change their minds and stop giving you the compliments you crave, then you’ll feel devalued. If they don’t meet all your expectations, you’ll get discouraged and feel inferior. You’ll start working overtime, people-pleasing to win their approval.

At some point, like a mother weans a baby off a bottle, you have to break your need for external validation.

You no longer need people complimenting you to keep you encouraged. Praise is nice to hear, but you can develop self-sufficiency.

2. Have compassion for others.

The truth is, our friends and family members have their own problems. They are not responsible for keeping us happy and making us feel good about ourselves. Don’t put that extra pressure on them. It’s unfair to the people who are in our lives.

Moreover, sometimes when people don’t give us what we need, it’s because they don’t have it, because nobody gave it to them. If they weren’t raised showing affection to people, and we keep trying to get it from them, we’ll likely end up frustrated.

Maybe they did the best they could. They may have made a decision that we don’t understand, and we may feel like it has put us at a disadvantage, but at least we didn’t have to walk in their shoes.

3. Start approving of yourself.

What people do, or don’t do, doesn’t determine our worth. Our value doesn’t come from another person; it comes from ourselves.

People may not encourage us, but we can encourage ourselves. People may not make us feel special, but we can make ourselves feel special. We’ll have better relationships if we start validating ourselves instead of becoming needy and waiting for other people to give us our approval fix.

4. Don’t give your power away.

When a person walks away, wrongs us, or even makes hurtful comments, we need to learn to shake off that disrespect.

Don’t believe the lies that we are not talented enough, attractive enough, or good enough. They don’t determine our value. They can’t lessen our self-worth. The only power people have over us is the power we give to them.

We don’t have to play up to people try to win their favor. If they don’t want to be in our lives, it’s actually their loss, not ours.

—

If you learn this principle of not relying on people for your worth and start generating your own approval and acknowledgment, you won’t feel crushed when somebody doesn’t give you what you expect.

The less we depend on people for validation, the stronger we’ll become and the higher we will go.

Jen Yang is a Self-Love Coach, an empath, and a recovering perfectionist. She is passionate about supporting busy professional women to tune into their own feminine power, tpfeel confident and enthusiastic about their life, relationships, and work, and to claim back their worth. Visit her at Jenyangmetamorphosis.com and on Facebook and Instagram.

But as a society we revel in being busy all the time. We consider those who do nothing on the weekend to be dull or lazy. We don’t have time to chew the cud. If William Henry Davies thought his lot “had no time to stop and stare,” he should turn in his grave and see what’s happened since.

Somewhere along the lines, it’s become more than acceptable to live at an unhealthy pace—it’s become “cool.” Instead of saying, “Very well, thanks,” when people ask how we are, today we roll our eyes and reply proudly, “Hectic!”

Where we live, lots of mothers rock up at school, claiming they’ve had four hours of sleep, have no time to walk the dog, and have already been to the gym at 6am. They set the bar high! I feel inadequate if I’m not still replying to emails at 8pm. My phone stays on all night next to my bed in case someone needs me. Every day. Even on holiday. Especially on holiday.

Our house burned down a few years ago—moments after we’d left with our new baby. The fire started in our bedroom where her cot was at the end of our bed.

A lot of the very important stuff we’d gathered around us was lost—clothes, photos, furniture. We knew our attachment to our losses would cause us pain, despite having walked our spiritual path for years.

No one was hurt. We dug deep, counted our blessings, and tried to go with the flow of things. And we realized (because it was months before we missed “that pair of shoes” or “my favorite” CD) that most of the things we battle for, in the end, we don’t miss at all.

I also realized that much of what I busy myself with all day does matter, but much of it does not. If I don’t do it, it makes no difference. No one notices! But for me, and many people I know, because our poor addled brains are never allowed to switch off, we are often unable to see which is which.

This way of living is not good for us. Trying to juggle everyone’s balls is not good for me! Coloring with my five year old is—if I’m doing it wholeheartedly, mindfully, rather than keeping half an eye on the clock and the other half on the mobile attached to my side. She can color inside the lines; I can’t because I’m not concentrating.

Cortisol, the stress hormone, is as addictive as adrenaline and long been indicated in serious diseases like cancer and stroke. It keeps you awake at night, depletes the adrenal glands, and leads to chronic fatigue.

My husband, once a gym obsessed high-flyer in the corporate world, collapsed burnt out before he was thirty.

He had to completely reassess the demands he made on his body and mind and dramatically scale back both his work commitments (which saw him constantly flying all over the world) and his fitness regime. He learned to relax, something he was not good at.

It has taken him years of practice to heal, and he still suffers chronic fatigue if faced with long, stressful situations.

A wise man once told us, “The mind is like a bucket of dirty water. The more you stir it, the harder it is to see what is in there. If you stop stirring and let it settle, the muck will fall to the bottom and you will be able to see the clear water.”

But admitting that you want to settle isn’t easy in a society that only respects those who can keep it up 24/7. When everyone else is competing to see who’s the busiest, it’s hard to say, “I’m not doing anything this weekend.” People think we’re rude or that something’s wrong.

But it’s vital to rest your brain and body. So here’s our advice. Start small. Start now. You have five minutes to spare. (Yes, you do).

Meditating is as simple as breathing. You can do it before breakfast, in the bathroom, in your garage. Focus on the flow of breath in and out of your body, the movement of air, the rise and fall of your chest.

When a thought creeps into your head (and it will), acknowledge it and release it. Bring your focus back to your breath.

The more you practice this technique, the easier it will become and the longer you will go without such thoughts bothering you. At some point they will slow down and the quiet space between them will grow. You can do it anywhere, whenever you sit still for five minutes—on the train, in the bath.

Breathe and watch the muck fall to the bottom of the bucket.

Learning the precious art of being un-busy will calm you. It will give you greater clarity, focus, and concentration for times when you need the energy. It will improve the health of your mind and body, and probably even your bank balance.

Fiona is a designer, NLP practitioner, and writer who lives with husband Gavin, their four children and dog. After years of meditating and spiritual practice, Fiona and Gavin set up Earthmonk clothing with soul, blending unique graphics with ancient timeless teachings to motivate and inspire. In their spare time they love being on the beach near their Sussex home.

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) or PCOD is a common endocrine system disorder among women of reproductive age. As the name indicates, the disease afflicts the ovaries (egg forming organs in the female, located in the pelvis, 2 in number, one on each side of the uterus or womb). […]

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) All the functions of the body are monitored and governed by 3 doshas, Vata, pitta and Kapha. This concept contributes to the whole of Ayurveda physiology (kriya shaareera). The same concept contributes to the Ayurveda Pathology. When these doshas are in a ‘state of balance’ (equilibrium), they help […]

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) This article is to give a comparison between the ‘extensive and broad-spectrum action of Pippali or long pepper to that of a steroid’. This is not to prove that Pippali is equal to Steroid, because Pippali is not a steroid. Pippali is a naturally occurring herb, which has […]

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) Sneha is a lipid or fatty substance. Ayurveda tells that the whole ‘human body’ is made up of sneha. This sneha should be nourished on regular basis, the major part of which comes from the food we consume. Qualitative and quantitatively monitored good fats will guard our health […]

“On any one day you can massively change the direction of your life.” ~Jim Rohn

Have you ever felt as though you needed to have your whole life figured out right now?

When we’re young, we are often encouraged to consider the same common careers such as being a police officer, firefighter, doctor, lawyer, or teacher. Then in high school, we feel pressure to make a decision because we’ll have to major in something in college.

We may love music, writing, or something that people associate with struggle, only to get bombarded by advice to do something that will make money.

People constantly ask us what we are going to do with our lives. The pressure on all of us is huge.

In college, this pressure only increases, because with a major, now everyone wants to know what you’re going to do with it. For example, I majored in sports medicine and Hispanic studies, and people would constantly ask me about my plans. When I said I wanted to be a physician, there was even more pressure from people. This creates stress and anxiety, and can push someone toward burning out.

There is a certain expectation that we need to pick a traditional career path, especially when we speak to older individuals who chose a career and stayed there until retirement.

The older I get, the more I realize there are many things I want to accomplish in this life, and I have no desire to stick to one career and be defined by it.

There are parts of me that are strategic, other parts that are itching for me to take crazy risks, and others that tell me I want to be the best doctor. There are so many things to fulfill that I am not quite sure what I want to do for the rest of my life.

I know there are other people who feel the same way. If that’s you, I want you to know that…

It’s okay to not know what you want to do, or to have a plan for a lifelong career.

There is time. Time to look at different careers and do as we please. No longer do we have to follow the traditional route of getting a job right away and sticking to that one job right for the rest of our lives. If we want to change, there is a way to do it.

After graduating from college, I traveled around Europe, took some classes, worked in the entertainment industry, and grew as an individual as I was exposed to different areas of life.

I met many different types of people who all provided different perspectives. The amount of learning and knowledge that I absorbed throughout these meetings was more than I could have gotten from any type of formal education.

Currently having my vision set on being a physician is great. I love medicine, and as of now, I want to be a doctor. However, I am not defined by my title of physician, because later on I may change careers. I may decide it’s time to open a business or join a jazz band and travel the United States.

I’m not sure what I will be doing for the rest of my life, but I know that if I continuously remind myself to have a smile on my face, I will be happy.

You don’t need to worry about other people’s opinions.

One of the things I struggle with is worrying about what other people think. The majority of people I met while working at a hospice center told me they were not afraid of failure or afraid of doing what they truly wanted with their life; they were afraid of what people would think of them.

This was eye-opening, because I realized how often we limit ourselves based on what other people say we should do, and that their opinions don’t matter because they are not living our lives.

The people who tell you no and criticize are often the ones who are not following their own dreams. They may have been knocked down by not succeeding and may have become jaded by the world. You don’t have to live your life based on what they say.

When I tell people that being a doctor is only a fraction of what I will accomplish in my lifetime, more than half of them make a comment or show through their body language that they don’t believe in my plan.

It’s frustrating how even the people closest to me do not support some of my views on life, and they make sure to let me know it. I am still learning to not be affected by this because it’s challenging, but I urge you to do the same.

Tell more and more people about what you want to do with your life because then it will become your truth, which will make it much easier to stick to your plan.

At the beginning of my undergraduate career, there were over 100 people interested in the pre-medical track. By the end of my college experience, there were around twenty who were still dedicated to the pursuit of medical school.

Time and time again, people told us how hard it was going to be, the sacrifices we were going to have to make, and how there were always people better than us. Those opinions discouraged the majority of my peers. As hard as it has been, sticking through it has been the most rewarding experience ever.

You can create a worthwhile future while enjoying the moment.

When we get wrapped up in believing we need to know what we’re going to do, we can lose sight of the present. I know many people who are constantly worried about the future. They’re afraid things won’t work out, and they never truly live in the moment.

We need to think about the future in order to create it, but we can actually do that most effectively when we focus primarily on the present.

People who diet often talk in terms of the future and how much weight they need to lose, but if they were to focus solely on the day and what needed to get done, before they know it, the results would show!

This kind of focus can be challenging, as this requires us to engage in positive habits every day in order to find success in what we desire. However, when we become conscious of what we must do every day, we can then relax knowing that in due time, the results of our consistency will show.

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It’s okay to not know what you want to do for the rest of your life. I see a negative stigma associated with people who do not have a clear plan for their career path, but there’s nothing wrong with going with the flow and allowing yourself to grow, evolve, and change.

What is life if you make it to the end and do not have any exciting, crazy memories to look back on and remember with a smile on your face?

We should all go out and explore many different fields to see what we truly love—and we may need to do this several times throughout our lives.

Whether it’s working from a remote location, working with children, or becoming a missionary, do it all and see what you like best!

At any time we can change the course of our lives. It might not always be easy, but all we have to do is put one foot forward, knowing we’re creating a change that will bring us more joy in life.

Armando Quintana III is a master’s student and signed model. One of his main goals is to be a physician and educate people on the natural healing powers of the body. In addition to being a public speaker on alternative ways to reach success, he mentors high school and college students. He can be reached through social media at @armandoq3 or at mfmanifesto.com.

Tuesday, 27 December 2016

An invalided RAF veteran left fearing how he would keep a roof over his head after his benefits were cut has been told they are to be reinstated – and increased.

ME sufferer John McGeorge-Oanta (51), who told his story in The Voice at the beginning of this month, has faced seven weeks of worry and been plunged into the worse period of ill health he has faced in years as he prepared to battle the decision at tribunal.

Then, this week the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) contacted him to say his case has been reviewed again and he has been awarded Personal Independence Payment (PIP), backdated, at a rate of £76 per week.

On November 2 it had ruled John had a zero rating score for PIP and subsequently his disability living allowance care component of £55 per week was withdrawn, leading also to the removal of his wife Tica’s carers allowance and the couple’s Housing Benefit.

John, of Swift Gardens, Spalding, said: “We have a welfare system in this country to enable people to live as productive a life as they can. For many people with ME it is not possible for us to work and this welfare is something we can’t do without.

“I’m grateful to the country for providing that. I just despair knowing others in my condition and worse are suffering because of this mandate the Government has to carry out these desperate ‘get-money-back’ measures on the vulnerable.

“It’s impossible to balance your books when you make spurious decisions like they do.

“Obviously they were concerned when the tribunal came around they would have to pay for that.

“Unfortunately this is what is going to happen to so many people unless we have a change of law – I would like to see these decisions taken out of the DWP’s hands until they go to tribunal.

“It was a terribly difficult situation – losing so much money was a terrible burden. People say ‘and just before Christmas,’ but such things are not really relevant, it is difficult to lose that at any time of year.

“It just highlights the nonsense in the way they are making these decisions.

“It is shameful that the people suffering are the most vulnerable.”

The Royal British Legion, which was supporting John to prepare for the tribunal, had told John it felt he had a claim for a higher level of support – but John says he is content to have the money he needs to pay his rent and survive.

John was invalided from the RAF after almost 20 years service, including in Sierra Leone, following his diagnosis with ME.

The complex and fluctuating condition, in his case, means he regularly collapses and becomes unresponsive as well as suffering constant muscle and joint pain.

A spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions said: “Decisions for Personal Independence Payments are made after considering all the information provided by the claimant, including any supporting evidence from their GP or medical specialist, and anyone who disagrees with a PIP decision can appeal.

“If an appeal is made and new evidence comes to light during the process then the decision can be changed before the appeal is heard.”

We are a culture of go-getters. Often we feel guilty for taking a break and stepping away from our work. Recent research shows that it may be that stepping away is the very thing we need in order to be more creative and productive.

When you have had a long day at the office, you may be tempted to drop into the couch with a glass of wine and the remote control, but this form of turning off may not be the one that actually restores you. In his recent book Rest: Why you Get More Done when you Work Less, Alex Soojung-Kim Pang explores the world of deeply restorative and deliberate down time. It turns out that tapping into your creative potential includes some very important acts of tuning out the focused mind. Try these new ideas for rest the next time you feel empty of ideas or energy:

Move your blood: Pang explores the relationship between athletes and academics in his section on exercise. He looks at a study that followed leading scientists through the years, and found that those who were the most innovative and successful were also those that invested time and energy in athletic pursuits. Specifically, they chose athletic endeavors that could be played throughout life, such as tennis, swimming, hiking, and skiing. The research showing that exercise is an excellent stress reducer supports these studies; high achievers often experience a great deal of stress. With exercise built into their lives, they are better able to handle the various deadlines and stressors inherent in their careers.

Stop what you are doing: It turns out there is a good time to stop working, and that is when you are sure of what you will do when you get back to it. Writers through the years have insisted that by taking a break when they knew where they would start again allowed them to get right back into their creative stream. Ernest Hemingway suggested, and research supports, that stopping writing mid-sentence can let you get right back into your rhythm. Learning to recognize the best time to stop and take a break can let you confidently step away from your work, knowing you’ll have an easy point of reentry.

Head for the hills: You can hit the trail or the park, or your neighborhood streets, but when you’ve tapped out your creative mind, a walk could be just what you need to recharge. Well known figures throughout history, from Beethoven to Charles Dickens espoused the virtues of long walks in nature. More recently, studies have shown that walking can get those creative juices flowing as well as lift your mood and help you return to focus when you head back to your office.

There are some counterintuitive ways that we can recharge our energy, attention, and brilliance. It’s almost never about gritting our teeth and just getting through it, not when our creative and problem solving capacities are needed. By finding effective and engaging activities that support our ability to regenerate, we will enjoy our lives more and be more productive.

“The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself.” ~Anna Quindlen

I used to strive for perfection in every aspect of my life. I thought perfection would make me “acceptable” to others.

Deep down, I felt inadequate, insecure, and not enough. And subconsciously, I decided that if I could just achieve perfection with myself, my body, and my life, than I would finally feel the deep love and inner acceptance I longed for inside of myself.

As a kid, I demanded a perfect report card: only straight A’s would suffice. I spent hours upon hours studying in high school and college, doing extra credit, attending office hours any chance I could get, all in a desperate attempt to maintain a 4.0 GPA.

As a young adult, I agonized over what career path to pick, wanting to pick the perfect job that would be my dream career. I was desperate to be the best, wanting to be the perfect employee, and giving nothing less than 150 percent in every project I worked on and presentation I did.

I was terrified to make a mistake and required excellence in every task. I was afraid of others judging me. I didn’t see it my mistakes as learning experiences; I saw them as a way of others seeing what I didn’t want them to see: that I was flawed, imperfect, and somehow not enough.

I demanded perfection in every part of my life. But the area I struggled the most with was the desire for body perfection.

As a teenager, I decided that 110 pounds was the “perfect” body. I spent years trying to whittle my body down with exercise, diets, and restriction in an attempt to get the figure I deemed flawless.

The pressure I put on myself to be a size 2, to eat only 1200 calories a day, to spend at least 45 minutes at the gym daily was agonizing. I lived and breathed this obsession of needing and wanting to be perfect.

Looking back, I can see how detrimental this drive was to living and enjoying my life. In my chase for perfection, I put unnecessary pressure on myself to be something I was not. I wasted hours and hours trying to be someone different and wishing I was somewhere other than where I currently was.

But the biggest lesson of all was that in my quest for perfection, I wasn’t really living.

The reality is that striving for perfection holds us back. We spend so much time doing, striving, achieving, in an endless quest to get it all “perfect,” and we end up missing out on what life is really about: being in each moment and experiencing life where we are, as we are.

I vividly remember New Year’s Eve in 2007. One of the dear friends I had met living abroad in Thailand was in town and wanted to see me. She wanted to do dinner with a group of people, then head out dancing for the ball drop.

I agonized over this decision to go or not. I remember wanting to meet up with her, but feeling so awful about my body not being “perfect” that I didn’t want to go out and have to “hide” my body in baggy clothes.

It pains me to say that I didn’t go. I gave up a chance to catch up with this dear friend, to have fun with others, and to dance the night away because I was unhappy with my body. I stayed home that night and ran on the treadmill in my parents’ basement.

It was the ultimate low in my quest for body perfection: I decided that I needed to burn off what I had eaten that day and work to “fix” myself into a smaller size.

The anxiety I felt about eating more calories at a restaurant, when I already felt “fat” in my body, pushed me to stay home and run on the treadmill. It was a moment of life that I missed out on because I was desperately pursing a perfect body.

When we’re caught up in the pursuit of achieving the perfect body, finding the perfect mate, landing the perfect job, or being the perfect person, it actually hinders us from seeing how beautifully our journey is unfolding right before our eyes.

Perfection detracts you from the incredible life path that you’re on and prevents you from seeing the gifts that are always in front of us. So the next time you get caught up in the endless pursuit of perfection, here are three things to remember:

1. Perfection isn’t attainable.

We try so hard to achieve an ideal in our lives that is next to impossible. There really is no perfect body, perfect job, or perfect life. It isn’t possible to have our lives be happy, joyous, and 100 percent problem free. Unexpected tragedies happen. Something doesn’t turn out as you hoped it would. Someone you love disappoints you.

When you understand that perfection isn’t actually something you can achieve and maintain forever, you can let go of the never-ending quest for your job, your body, your parenting skills, or your relationship to be perfect.

Letting go of this unattainable goal is a huge sigh of relief. We don’t have to try to be perfect, because it’s impossible anyway! Once we relax into the idea of letting go of perfection, life becomes easier, less stressful, and a lot more fun.

Perfection leaves little room for error and fun, and while life can sometimes be messy, it’s during these times where we learn and grow (and have some adventure along the way).

2. Perfection isn’t authentic.

When you’re always striving to be perfect, you miss out on showing the world who you truly are. Years ago, when I was in the throes of dieting and restriction, trying to be “perfect” in my eating and my body, I wasn’t being true to myself. I was hiding from the world, desperately trying to conceal what I thought were imperfections.

In the drive to be perfect, I never allowed myself to be vulnerable—to show up and let myself be seen. I thought when I’d reached perfection, I’d find approval and acceptance. But since the pursuit of perfection is an endless chase, the approval and acceptance never came.

It was only when I had the courage to drop my unattainable goals and bring my true self to the world, imperfections and all, when I began to find the inner acceptance I had wanted all along.

It was scary to show up as who I was without wearing a mask or pretending to be someone I was not. But I began making decisions for and from me.

I quit my job and traveled for a year without an agenda (giving up a well-paying, secure job in the process). I ended a relationship that was no longer serving me (letting go of a man who was also my best friend). I took Spanish classes, wore a bikini to the beach without a cover up, told friends I wasn’t into partying anymore, and began to speak up for what I wanted and what I thought.

It wasn’t easy or comfortable, but it was incredibly freeing. I felt vulnerable and naked, but as I began to express my honest opinion to others, voice what I needed or wanted, follow my own preferences instead of what was expected of me, and show more of who I was to the world without hiding, it got easier and easier.

Your imperfect self is enough. Allow yourself to show up in the world as you are. When we’ve demanded perfection from ourselves for years, it can be scary to let go of our ideal and let the world see us as we are. But this is where your true, authentic beauty resides. Not in perfection, but in bringing all of who you are to the world.

3. Perfection is stagnation.

No one is meant to be perfect in any area of life, whether it’s your body, relationships, personal growth, habits, or your career, because in a “perfect” world, everything is stagnant. There is no growth and no evolution. It is only through mistakes, missteps, and experimentation that we learn and grow.

Looking back on my life, most of my decisions that seemed irrational or didn’t make sense in the traditional way ended up leading me to a path that was a perfect fit for what I needed and wanted. Life is funny that way.

I quit a stable job, but had incredible adventures traveling South America for a year. I left my hometown to move cross county without a plan, but ended up starting a business that is my true passion. I mistakenly got thrown into a role that I didn’t want at a job, but learned so much about fundraising and development that I ended up enjoying it.

These “mistakes” allowed me to see how perfection would have actually held me back. If I had followed the “perfect” path, the path without risk, without chance of failure, and the path that felt safe and easy, I never would have had these life-changing personal growth experiences.

Many people who are striving for perfection in their life path, wanting to plan it all out and have it go exactly how they think it should, end up missing out on some of life’s best surprises and most meaningful moments.

It is a refreshing way to view life. To allow ourselves to make mistakes is a relief, whether it’s messing up our food plan, getting into a fight with a family member, expressing emotions to a close friend and having it come out all wrong, or experimenting with a new hobby knowing you’ll likely mess up trying to master it. It’s these “mistakes” that allow us to incorporate feedback and chart a new course.

If we’re constantly striving for perfection, we end up missing out on the lessons we most need to learn. In the pursuit of being flawless, our eyes are always looking three steps ahead of where we are. And as we’re consistently living a few steps ahead, we end up missing out on life’s most precious moment: now.

Perfection isn’t meant to be something you achieve because it doesn’t actually exist. So the next time you find yourself striving to be a more “perfect” version of yourself, remember that the imperfect, flawed, vulnerable you is perfectly enough.

Jenn Hand, founder of jennhand.com, helps you end your relentless battle with food demons, daily struggle with cravings, and constant war with binging. She will hold you by the hand and gently help you find freedom in your eating and fall (back) in love with your body. Tired of “starting over” every damn Monday? Download your “Must Have Guide to End the Diet Cycle Today.”

Monday, 26 December 2016

Han Shan wrote poems for everyone, not just the educated elite. A man free of spiritual doctrine, it is unclear whether or not he was a monk, whether he was a Buddhist or a Taoist, or both. It is not even certain he ever lived, but the poems do. Short film (about 30 minutes)

Gridhrasi disease is correlated with sciatica. There are two types mentioned. Vataja and Vata- Kaphaja Gridhrasi. Here is an attempt to enlist and analyse the symptoms of each type. General symptoms of Gridhrasi: SphikPoorva Kati Prista Janu Jangha Padam Kramat-Ruk – Pain spreading from hip, gluteal region, thighs, knee, legs and to the feet. Muhu […]

As the New Year approaches, many of us are making lists of ways we can improve our lives and better ourselves.

If you’re looking to transform your body, calm your mind, or push yourself outside your comfort zone, you may benefit from participating in one of these three free events from Tiny Buddha friends and contributors.

How you can lose weight and get healthy with powerful self-hypnosis technology

About Rena Greenberg:

Since 1990 Hay House author Rena Greenberg has helped over 200,000 people, all over the world, lose weight and achieve optimal health. Her groundbreaking wellness seminar for weight control has been reviewed and sponsored in over 75 hospitals and in 100+ major corporations such as Walt Disney World and Home Depot.

Her clients often say they “owe their lives to her,” because she finds the fastest and easiest ways to help people release subconscious blocks to losing weight and find lasting health, happiness, and freedom.